HISTORY
1966 - A group of parents, seeking services for their children with Down syndrome, found The Association for Special Children. Early intervention strategies were developed with the aid of outside consultants.
1972 - 73 - Space was rented on Long Island for the first “center-based” programs. The first teacher and teacher assistants were hired, paid through private fundraising efforts.
1975 - PL 94-142, Education of All Handicapped Children Act, is passed marking the beginning of government funding for special education.
1975 -76 - The agency is approved for New York State funding, the programs are consolidated in Eastern Nassau County, and the position of Executive Director is created.
1978 – 1980 - Preschool moves to Bellmore. School grows to 70 students and becomes a practicum site for local universities. Budget reaches $250,000 with 26 full and part time staff.
1984 - Governor Cuomo establishes October as Down syndrome Awareness Month in New York in a ceremony attended by Executive Director Freda Stimell.
1985 – 88 – Our school expands to 90 students. 5Plus after school recreation program started with legislative grant. Expands to Saturdays and Program Coordinator is hired in 1988. First bilingual assistant is hired.
1992 – 1993 - For the first time, 100% of ACDS graduates transition to public school placements. First full-time controller is hired.
1995 – 96 - Inclusionary day care program for children in the community opens.
1996 – 1997 - Children of all special needs beyond Down syndrome are accepted into program.
1999 - Agency name is changed to Association for Children with Down Syndrome, Inc., also legally known as ACDS. School moves to current leased facility in Plainview.
2000 - First Individualized Residential Alternative (IRA group home) opens in Wantagh – all six residents are former ACDS students. Two other homes quickly follow in Freeport and Seaford.
2002 - 2003 - ACDS begins services to children on the autistic spectrum. Merrick IRA opens.
2004 - 05 - Michael Smith is hired as Executive Director. Horatio Avenue IRA opens in Merrick and our school student enrollment surpasses 200.
2006 - Budget is $8 million and staff reaches 175 as 40th anniversary is celebrated. Home based EI services utilizing Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) are established to address children with autism.
2007 - 2008 - Home based Preschool ABA services are added. Hellenos House, our sixth IRA, opens in Wantagh. Weeklong overnight summer camp commences in Garrison, NY.
2010 - Seventh IRA opens on West Loines Ave. in Merrick. Our first supportive residence opens as an apartment extension is added to our Freeport IRA. Day habilitation services are added to the roster of adult services. School facility is reconfigured to add a self-contained clinical wing for all therapy services to students. Services to autistic children expand with addition of ABA classes in EI and preschool.
2011 - ACDS celebrates its 45th Anniversary, with employees providing service to nearly one thousand individuals. Operating budget reaches $14 million, having more than doubled since 2004.
2012 - Agency changes legal name to ACDS and adopts a new tag line to reflect the continued evolution of services to children and adults with varying developmental disabilities. Twelve ACDS dancers perform at Lincoln Center. ACDS is a featured panelist at the first United Nations conference on World Down Syndrome Day.
2013 - ACDS receives New York State approval to open an eighth group home in Albertson, NY to serve four adults with autism. ACDS' client population surpasses 1,000 individuals.
2014 - 5Plus and Day Hab move to their current site, at St. Pius Parish in Plainview
2016 - ACDS’ 50th anniversary is celebrated and a second 4410 site is opened in Westchester, serving 3-5 year olds from the community. NY State Senator Shelley Mayer attends the ribbon cutting.
2019 - A second Day Habilitation site opens at Sacred Heart Parish in Merrick.
2019 - Working with Merlin’s Magic Wand and Legoland Discovery Center Westchester, ACDS Westchester unveils an interactive Lego room.
2020 - Tiana Jones becomes ACDS Board President.
2021 - ACDS successfully completed the purchase of our 4 Fern Place headquarters from the Plainview school district.
